Timbo
14th September 2011, 10:11 AM
Hi all, long time reader, sometimes poster. :P
Ok, here's a moral dilemma I'm having.
I'm going to be buying a new bull bar soon as mine is cactus.
Looking around on ebay and there's quite a few "copies" floating around. You have ARB style and TJM style bars (roof racks, rear bars etc) and they seems to be half the price.
Now generally, I wouldn't hesitate in buying a knock off (copied) product like say, track pants or shoes. 9/10 times it's the same gear, just not branded.
However, this is going on my Patrol and there's a safety factor to consider. Now I'm not saying these copies are better or worse, so just hear me out on this.
Would you;
a) Pay more for a product that is branded, has a warranty and let's face it, give you some status.
or
b) Pay less for a product that isn't branded (or, is branded but from a company that isn't one of the big 3 or 4), has a limited warranty (30 days, maybe 3 months) and save some hard earned cash?
I know a lot of people say, "you get what you pay for" and then on the other side of the fence, you have people say "it's exactly the same, it's just missing a sticker". It's really hard to say who's right or wrong. Person A could buy an ARB bull bar and it could last 20 years. Person B could buy an unbranded bull bar and it lasts just as long. But we are paying more for the ARB product because of all the R&D aren't we? Or are we just filling pockets because it says ARB on it?
At the moment, I'm tossing up between a genuine TJM bar (about $1500) and a copy (about $1000). It's quite a saving, actually, that money could also help me upgrade my roof rack, which would probably be another copied style one. ($400)
What are your thoughts on this whole issue?
Cheers
Ok, here's a moral dilemma I'm having.
I'm going to be buying a new bull bar soon as mine is cactus.
Looking around on ebay and there's quite a few "copies" floating around. You have ARB style and TJM style bars (roof racks, rear bars etc) and they seems to be half the price.
Now generally, I wouldn't hesitate in buying a knock off (copied) product like say, track pants or shoes. 9/10 times it's the same gear, just not branded.
However, this is going on my Patrol and there's a safety factor to consider. Now I'm not saying these copies are better or worse, so just hear me out on this.
Would you;
a) Pay more for a product that is branded, has a warranty and let's face it, give you some status.
or
b) Pay less for a product that isn't branded (or, is branded but from a company that isn't one of the big 3 or 4), has a limited warranty (30 days, maybe 3 months) and save some hard earned cash?
I know a lot of people say, "you get what you pay for" and then on the other side of the fence, you have people say "it's exactly the same, it's just missing a sticker". It's really hard to say who's right or wrong. Person A could buy an ARB bull bar and it could last 20 years. Person B could buy an unbranded bull bar and it lasts just as long. But we are paying more for the ARB product because of all the R&D aren't we? Or are we just filling pockets because it says ARB on it?
At the moment, I'm tossing up between a genuine TJM bar (about $1500) and a copy (about $1000). It's quite a saving, actually, that money could also help me upgrade my roof rack, which would probably be another copied style one. ($400)
What are your thoughts on this whole issue?
Cheers